Upload
others
View
15
Download
1
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Aquaponic Plant Selection and
Considerations
Aquaculture Boot Camp-2 February 11, 2017
Brad Bergefurd, Extension Educator Agriculture and Natural Resources &
Horticulture Specialist
OSU Extension Scioto County
OSU Piketon Research & Extension Center
Acceptable yields= profit potential
Treatment Marketable ounces per square foot
Styrofoam float tray Mizuna
10.3912 A
Hydrocorn Mizuna
2.208 C
Rock Mizuna
1.4214 C
Styfofoam float tray Red Leaf Lettuce
4.0157 B
Hydrocorn Red Leaf Lettuce
2.3874 C
Rock Red Leaf Lettuce
1.1592 C
LSD 1.5349
*Treatments with different Letters are significantly different.
Aquaponic Benefits
• Two crops - symbiotic relationship between plants and fish
• Reduction in waste-water discharge by recycling nutrients
• 90% REDUCTION in water use vs. conventional farming techniques
• Minimal need for land- because of their compact nature, facilities may be located very close to the end users (restaurants, green grocers, food manufacturers, public) in a variety of locations (country, city, desert).
• Supports Local Market Demand
• Produces an organic food source-no herbicides and OMRI pesticides can be used
• Year round production for marketing advantage
Disadvantages to aquaponics
• High start up costs
• Lack of research
• Have to manage both systems, fish and plants
• Needs constant monitoring (babysitting) and
skilled management
• Moderate energy inputs
• Niche, high-end marketing to be profitable
Nitrogen Cycle in Aquaponics
Nutrient Management- Why is it so important?
• Specialty crops (vegetable, fruit,
herbs) tend to be short-term
crops grown as part of a multiple
cropping system.
• Succession cropping is common
(i.e. several crops grown one
after another in same area).
• Intercropping is common (two or
more crops growing at the same
time in the same area).
Fertility Regular
Often
Adjust throughout
season Photo by Steve Groff
Specialty Crop Fertilizer and Environment
• Intensive aquaponic production systems use protective
structures to grow a number of crops year around which
influences fertility management
• With proper fertilizer management specialty crop
producers can minimize environmental impacts and
improve fertilizer use efficiently.
• Growers should know their crops, account for the
nutrient values of ALL soil amendments and test soils
and plants to support fertilizer management decisions.
Fertigation & Monitoring
• Regular & Often
• Adjust throughout the crop cycle based on weekly/daily
plant and water analysis
• Immediate testing determines how much nitrate is already
present in the plant, minimizing the possibility of under or
over fertilization. Cardy meters $495,
http://www.specmeters.com
• Excess N also can result in reduced nutritional content.
• Leafy green vegetables= high N can result in accumulation of nitrates in
plant tissue to unhealthy levels.
• High N can cause reduced volatile production and negative impact on
flavor & aroma in fruits, vegetables and hops.
• Excess N= hollow stem in broccoli and reduced storage qualities of fruit
and vegetables.
• Excess n can cause reductions in other plant nutrients such as P, Ca, Mg.
resulting in deficiencies and associated disorders.
Nitrogen Management in Specialty Crops
Some Examples of Aquaponic Systems
Continuous flow (more energy)
Floating Rafts
Multi-level vertically integrated systems
Ebb and flow
Troughs
Gravel beds
Slide from Rainfresh Harvests
non-circulating, hydroponic, float-bed
system
Fuhrmann Orchards Scioto County
imag
e co
urt
esy
B. B
erg
efu
rd, O
SU
bag culture
Aquaponic strawberries?
• Thanks to a USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant current Ohio research :
• Stackers
• Troughs
• Gutters
1 month growth:
Arugula, bokchoy, basil, mustard
greens
Things can go bad real fast!!
• Plant nutrition and water needs to be constantly monitored and adjusted.
In Summary
• Aquaponics more popular than ever
• Get training
• Avoid shysters
• Use careful business planning
• Start of with a small pilot system
• Be ready to market a high value product
• Keep connected with research organizations
Full research reports, assistance and production information
• Brad Bergefurd Horticulture Specialist
• Extension Educator Piketon Research & Extension Center 1864 Shyville Road Piketon, Ohio 45661
• 1-800-860-7232 ext 136
• OSU Extension Scioto County Portsmouth, Ohio
• 740-354-7879
• www.southcenters.osu.edu
ANY QUESTIONS?
Aquaponics Advantages
• Extended growing seasons
• Wind and rain protection (Indoor)
• Potential for reduced disease problems on certain crops
• Potential for higher market value of crops
• Potential for higher quality harvested crops
• Potential for higher yields
• All crops can be Aquaponically with the right management and inputs
• Use of nutrient rich water
Potential Disadvantages
•Could be significant capital expense $
•Logistics and bottom line progfit potential of some crops
•Required continuous monitoring and management of production systems, temperatures, ventilation, pests
•Potential for structural damage from wind, snow, and ice loads.
• Insect and disease management (IPM)
• Management (babysitting)
• Use of nutrient rich water
Split Nitrogen Applications
• Many specialty crops require applying Nitrogen at different stages of
plant maturity.
• Excessive amounts or deficiencies in N can result in plant/fruit
physiological disorders (i.e. yellow shoulder disorder, blotchy
ripening of tomato).
• Split applications are generally more efficient in terms of fertilizer
and crop usage.
• Split applications require intensive crop monitoring and application
management.
• Applications made before nutrient deficiencies occur and in advance
of crop maturity stages (i.e not too early or too late).
Phosporous and Potassium applications
• P & K should be managed properly to minimize costs and
maximize efficiency.
• Excessive amounts or deficiencies in K can result in fruit
physiological disorders (i.e. yellow shoulder disorder of tomato).
• Tough to make applications in an aquaponics situation.
• To sustain adequate plant growth the concentrations of micro- and
macronutrients need to be monitored.
• Periodically some nutrients may need to be added to adjust their
concentration.
• Fertigation (applying nutrients through irrigation system) is recommended
when irrigation systems are designed accordingly.
• Must co- manage with fish production.
Fertigation Equipment
Structural and Environmental
Management •
Integrated Pest Management Tactics
(Aquaponic farming)
What is IPM?
• “Integrated pest management (IPM) is a threshold based decision management system which leads to judicious use of multiple pest control tactics.”
• IPM is currently insecticide-intensive…
• Major losses occur due to:
• Lack of early detection of insects
• Insecticide resistance by misuse
• Loss of natural control with insecticides
Decision making in IPM…
• Insect detection & monitoring
• Insect identification
• Population pressure
• Economic threshold
• Make treatment decision >>> 3-tiered
approach
Thresholds • They are the “yardsticks” that indicate
the need for control
• They are economically based
• They are different according to the
different pests (based on life cycles,
feeding habits, etc.)
• They can be different for different crops
• They may change according to
conditions or method of control.
A Variety of Disciplines for Both
Preventive and Rescue Type Pest Control
• Sanitation-Removal of residues and
hosts in and around the growing facility
• Cultural-Crop rotation, use of resistant
varieties, proper fertility, grafted plants
• Mechanical - Cultivation, row covers
• Biological - Releasing, attracting or
maintaining beneficial insect
populations, bio-fungicides
• Chemical - “organic”/”inorganic”
IPM Decision Making
• Level 1: Systems-based practices (cultural practices,
sanitation, crop rotation, trap crops)
• Level 2: Mechanical and physical practices (barriers,
lures/traps, repellents, hand-picking, netting)
• Level 3: Biorational & other material
• (OMRI or traditional approved insecticides)
Starting Point for IPM… • Emphasis on Pest Detection & Correct Identification:
– INSECT PHEROMONE TRAPS for improved scouting
– Trap Catch = Pest Density X Pest Activity (Taylor, 1963)
– Insect Monitoring Project in Ohio
Corn rootworm trap Sticky wing trap
Stink bug trap
Insect Netting Applications
Insect netting on the sides of a high tunnel
Use insect netting over the entire high tunnel frame
Biological Control Agents or Natural Enemies
Na
tura
l E
ne
mie
s
41
Predators: – Ladybugs, Spiders
• General feeders
• Eat several prey
• Larger and stronger than the prey
Parasitoids (=parasites): – Wasps, Flies
• Specialist feeders
• Kill only one host (pest)
• Smaller than the host
Pathogens: – Bacteria, Fungus & Viruses
• Micro-organisms that cause diseases in
insects
Who kills Pests?
http://www.harvesttotable.com/2012/06/parasitic-wasps-beneficial-insects/
extension.entm.purdue.edu
Flicker.com
42
Predators
Green lacewing
Larvae
Larvae © Rao Balusu
© Rao Balusu
ucanr.edu
Eggs
Lady beetles Hover flies
Abulrfan
Robber flies
www.ipm.ncsu.edu
Bigeyed bugs
Assassin bugs
Minute pirate bugs
Crab spider Wolf spider Orb weavers
Spinded soldier bug Spiders
farmerfredrant.blogspot.com
43
Parasitoids
Trichogramma wasp
shareourgarden.blogspot.com
Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc
Aphidius wasp
www.ipm.ucdavis.edu
Mummified aphids
Wasp in action www.biocontrol.entomology.cornell.edu
Trichopoda pennipes http://bugguide.net/node/view/6647
Tachinid flies
Insecticides for Aquaponic
Vegetable Production
If you do apply a pesticide, make sure to
follow all label and safety precautions!
•Wear protective equipment
•The person applying the pesticide should be
monitored at all times during the application of a
fumigant.
•Post a warning sign that states when the REI is over.
Insecticide Mode of Action (MoA)
Physical dessicant – kaolin clay, ash
Contact action – vegetable oils, horticultural oils, neem, pyrethrin, insecticidal soap, spinosyn, Beauveria, Metarhizium
Stomach action – Bt (Dipel)
Volatile action – Garlic Barrier, Cinnamite
Friend of friends – Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)
• Bt kurstaki strain acts on small caterpillars
• Caterpillars in cool-season crops, tomatoes, pepper
• Bt tenebrionis strain for beetles
• Frequent appl., thorough coverage needed
• 0 Pre Harvest Interval (PHI)
•
Pyrethrin/Pyrethrum
• Broad-spectrum insect control
• Pyganic 1.4EC, 5 EC – OMRI approved
•Pyrethrin + piperonyl butoxide (PBO-synergist) not organic
• Insects may recover
6% AI
6o% PBO
Permethrin – NOT organic insecticide!
Neem-based Insecticides
Neem (oil) OMRI approved
Neem II (oil + pyrethrin)
• Contact action, controls immature insects!
• Target pests: aphids, armyworms, scales, thrips, WF
For commercial producers
Insecticide Premixes Azera :
• OMRI approved
• Mix of azadirachtin + pyrethrin
• Interferes with molting, rapid knock-down
• Contact, stomach action, IGR
• Effective against stink bugs (brown marmorated stink bug)
Mix of neem + pyrethrin (Green Light)
Common name Product
Spinosyn A, D Entrust (SpinTor phase out)
Spinetoram Radiant 1SC
MoA: Mimic neurotransmitter, hyperexcite insects
Entrust: for ORGANIC producers
Spinosyn
•Excellent for thrips, leafminers, looper, others
•READ THE LABEL!!
Insecticidal Soap • Potassium salt of fatty acids
• Control soft-bodied insects (aphids, whiteflies)
• Some short-chain fatty acids are herbicides (household detergent)
• No residual action, not rain fast
OMRI Approved
Not OMRI Approved
Kaolin Clay • Present naturally in soil in tropical countries
• Foliar spray at high rate (25 lb/A)
• OMRI approved – Surround WP (95% clay)
• Natural desiccant, feeding deterrent
Vegetable Oils • Physical poisons
• Short residue
• Effective against soft-bodied insects
• Do not use if temps are >90F
• May not be OMRI approved
Canola oil (96%)
Soybean oil (93%)
Sesame oil 5% Fish oil 92%